Saturday Stats: July 30, 2022
Posted July 30, 2022 in eNews
Numeric news from Policy Matters Ohio
11,300: New numbers from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) show that Ohio employers cut 11,300 jobs last month – the first month Ohio employers have cut jobs since October 2021. In his monthly JobWatch report, Michael Shields says the cuts indicate that the Fed’s interest rate hikes are already taking a toll. Instead of using old tools to curb inflation, he suggests policymakers end price gouging with a tax on excess corporate profits and pull more people into the workforce by expanding child care. (Check out Mike’s explainer video for more.)
$1 billion: That’s how much the Business Income Deduction — known as the “LLC loophole” — costs Ohio communities each year without spurring job growth or improving Ohioans’ wellbeing. Guillermo Bervejillo’s analysis shows that the loophole is among Ohio’s most expensive tax breaks. “The amount most people receive from the LLC loophole isn’t enough to make or break most viable businesses, but it’s extremely costly to the people of Ohio,” he says. The Ohio Capital Journal did a great report on the loophole, which you can read here. (Guille made an explainer video too!)
$298: A working Ohioan must be paid an average of $298 a week over at least 20 weeks of work to qualify for unemployment compensation if they are laid off. That is a much higher pay threshold than in many other states. Someone who is paid the minimum wage can work 31 hours a week and never qualify. Michael says that Senate Bill 355, introduced by Sen. Teresa Fedor last week, will extend coverage for nearly 460,000 working Ohioans.
$369 billion: That is the size of the climate and tax package just agreed to by U.S. Senate Democrats. In its largest ever move to stem climate change, the federal government will incentivize jobs in wind and solar energy and address the disproportionate harm of pollution on Black and brown people and people with low incomes. The package is a step toward realizing ReImagine Appalachia’s vision of transforming the region through good, union jobs in industries that curb damage to the climate and clean up past damage to the land. You can read more about ReImagine Appalachia’s work in Amanda Woodrum’s piece in Route Fifty.
Coming up:
Join the Ohio Organizing Collaborative for the “All in For Ohio: Freedom to Vote Rally” on August 6 at 1 p.m. outside the statehouse. Ohioans of all walks of life will come together to demand that everyone has the freedom to cast a ballot and that every ballot is counted. Be there!
Health equity impact assessments can help policymakers make the best decisions for people’s health and wellbeing when spending American Rescue Plan dollars. Amanda Woodrum and folks from the Ohio Poverty Law Center and the Ohio Public Health Association will host a webinar on health equity assessments on August 17 at 12 p.m. It’s geared toward people who want their local governments to use ARPA funds to ensure all people can live happy, healthy lives no matter their race, income, or gender. Register here!
Honesty for Ohio Education and Campaign for Our Shared Future will host a community organizing workshop Tuesdays, Aug. 9 to Aug. 30 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. If you want to get your community organizing to fight curriculum bans, don’t miss it!
ReImagine Appalachia will host a listening session titled “Coal Waste: Turning Liabilities into Opportunities” on Tuesday, August 23rd at 3 p.m. They’ll discuss how new technologies can address the region’s coal waste problem while also positioning the region for the future. Register here.